• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.380-389
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• 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MS) refers to a clustering of at least three of the following medical conditions: high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, low high-density lipoprotein level, and high serum triglycerides. MS is related to a wide range of diseases which includes obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. There remains an ongoing need for improved treatment strategies for MS. The most important risk factors are dietary pattern, genetics, old age, lack of exercise, disrupted biology, medication usage, and excessive alcohol consumption, but pathophysiology of MS has not been completely identified. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) refers to steamed/dried ginseng, traditionally associated with beneficial effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-fatigue, anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects. KRG has been often used in traditional medicine to treat multiple metabolic conditions. This paper summarizes the effects of KRG in MS and related diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on experimental research and clinical studies.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2012

Panax ginseng has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. More recently, it has received attention for its anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects in humans and in animal models of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we tested the hypoglycemic effects of ginseng berry extract in beta-cell-deficient mice and investigated the mechanisms involved. Red (ripe) and green (unripe) berry extracts were prepared and administered orally (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice daily for 10 wk. The body weight was measured daily, and the nonfasting blood glucose levels were measured after 5 and 10 wk after administration. Glucose tolerance tests were performed, and the serum insulin levels were measured. The proliferation of beta-cells was measured in vitro. The administration of red or green ginseng berry extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and improved the glucose tolerance in beta-cell deficient mice, with the higher doses resulting in better effects. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly increased in berry extract-treated mice compared with streptozotocin-induced diabetic control mice. Treatment with ginseng berry extract increased beta-cell proliferation in vitro. Both red berry and green berry extracts improved glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and increased insulin secretion, possibly due to increased beta-cell proliferation. These results suggest that ginseng berry extracts might have beneficial effects on beta-cell regeneration.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.203-211
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• 2021

Diabetic mellitus (DM) is a carbohydrate metabolic disorder that involves high blood sugar because insulin works abnormally. Type 2 diabetes accounts for most of them. However, diabetes treatments such as GLP-1 and DPP-4 inhibitors commonly caused side effects including gastrointestinal disorders. Grifola frondosa (G. frondosa) revealed various pharmacological effects in recent studies. It has a variety of anti-cancer polysaccharides through host-mediated mechanisms. D-fraction in G. frondosa has apoptotic effects, promoting myeloid cell proliferation and differentiation into granulocytes-macrophages. It has also been shown to reduce the survival rate of breast cancer cells. Though, no further study has been conducted on the specific effects of G. frondosa in the db/db mouse. Therefore, we would like to research the blood glucose improving effect of G. frondosa, a natural material, in type 2 diabetes model mouse, in this study. G. frondosa was administered to the disease model mouse (BKS.Cg-+Lepr^db/+Lepr^db/OlaHsd) for 8 weeks to monitor weight and blood glucose changes every week. And we evaluated anti-diabetes effects by checking biomarker changes shown through blood. Experiment did not show statistically significant weight differences, but control groups showed significantly higher weight gain than G. frondosa administered groups. We collected blood from the tail veins of the db/db mouse each week. As a result, the lowest blood sugar level was shown in the 500 mg/kg group of G. frondosa. Glucose in the blood was examined with HBA1c, and 7.8% was shown in the 500 mg/kg administration group, lower than in other groups. These results suggest the potential improvements of diabetes in G. frondosa.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.103-112
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• 2008

Objectives: Indongdeungjikolpi-tang(IJT) is used as a traditional treatment of diabetes in oriental clinincs. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic effect of Indongdeungjikolpi-tang(IJT) in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ; 60 mg/kg BW) to Sprague-Dawley male rats. Experimental animals(six per group), were treated by oral administration of IJT(100 and 500 mg/kg BW) and glibendimide(3 mg/kg), a known antidiabetic drug for comparison, during 4 weeks. We measured the levels of glucose, insuline, triglyceride, creatinine and urea in sera of each group. An oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) was also performed in all groups. Results: IJT(100 and 500 mg/kg) significantly reduced blood glucose levels and increased plasma insulin levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats. IJT also significantly reduced the plasma levels of tryglyceride, creatinine and urea in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The OGTT results showed a significant improvement in glucose tolerance in IJT-administrated rats. Conclusions: These data indicate that IJT may improve glocose homeostasis in STZ-induced diabetes, which could be associated with stimulation of insulin secretion.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of Mori Folium (Morus alba L. of Moraceae) extract (MFE) on high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type II diabetes mellitus in mice. Methods : The mice (C57BL/6J) were fed HFD for 8 weeks and then was induced with a single injection of STZ (75 mg/kg). The diabetic mice were divided into four groups [(STD, HFD, HFD + MFE and HFD + quercetin (QUR)] and administered with MFE or OUR for 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile (triglycerides and cholesterol etc.), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), insulin and leptin were measured every 2 weeks. Results : Body weight gain was lower in the MFE and QUR groups than HFD group. The fasting blood glucose was lower in the MFE and QUR groups. Oral glucose and insulin tolerance were decreased in the MFE and QUR groups. The levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol were reduced in the MFE and QUR groups. The HDL cholesterol was much higher in the MFE and QUR groups than HFD group. The levels of GOT, GPT and atherogenic index were decreased in the MFE and QUR groups. The serum insulin and leptin concentrations were reduced in the MFE and QUR groups. Conclusions : These results showed that MFE could decrease blood glucose level and lead to an amelioration in dyslipidemia states on HFD/STZ-induced type II diabetes mellitus in mice.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2016

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of positional and geometric isomers of conjugated dienoic derivatives of linoleic acid. CLA has been reported to be able to reduce body fat. In this study, we investigated the antidiabetic effect of fermented milk (FM) containing CLA on type II diabetes db/db mice. Mice were treated with 0.2% low FM, 0.6% high FM, or Glimepiride (GLM) for 6 wk. Our results revealed that the body weight and the levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, and leptin were significantly decreased in FM fed mice compared to db/db mice. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance were significantly ameliorated in FM fed mice compared to db/db mice. Consistent with these results, the concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol were also significantly decreased in FM fed mice compared to db/db mice. However, the concentration of HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in FM fed mice compared to db/db mice. These results were similar to those of GLM, a commercial anti-diabetic drug. Therefore, our results suggest that FM has anti-diabetic effect as a functional food to treat type II diabetes mellitus.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was conducted to examine whether Toosendan Fructus has an ameliorative effect on diabetes-induced alterations such as oxidative stress and inflammation in the pancreas of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of human type I diabetes. Methods : Extracts of Toosendan Fructus (ETF) were administered to NOD mice at three doses (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg). Mice at 18 weeks of age were measured glucose tolerance using intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. After 28 weeks of ETF treatment, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and proinflammatory cytokines in serum, western blot analyses and a histopathological examination in pancreas tissue, and on the onset of diabetes were investigated. Results : The results showed that levels of glucose, glucose tolerance, TC, TG, interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-1 ${\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-12 in serum were down-regulated, while IL-4, IL-10, SOD, and catalase significantly increased. In addition, ETF improved protein expression of proinflammatory mediaters (such as cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and a proapoptotic protein (caspase-3) in the pancreatic tissue. Also, in the groups treated with ETF (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg), insulitis and infiltration of granulocytes were alleviated. Conclusions : Based on these results, the anti-diabetic effect of ETF may be due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Our findings support the therapeutic evidence for Toosendan Fructus ameliorating the development of diabetic pancreatic damage via regulating inflammation and apoptosis. Our future studies will be focused on the search for active compounds in these extracts.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.797-805
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• 2008

The present study was investigated on type 2 diabetics' actual status of anti-diabetic functional food intake by patients who came to oriental medicine clinics in Daejeon. The male was 37.3% and female was 62.7% of the subjects. The onset of the disease was most common in the age of 50's. Also 40% of the subjects have been suffering for more than 5 years. 35.7% of men, 53.2% for women had family history. Also 61.5% of the patients chose to carry out both diabetic therapy and exercise at the same time. 69.3% of the subjects have had experiences in anti-diabetic functional foods. Anti-diabetic functional foods used to surveyed people were bean, ginseng, and ginseng steamed red of which efficacies were already well known. Besides these foods, other foods such as loach, crucian carp were also used as anti-diabetic foods, but their benefits as anti-diabetic functional foods are not yet fully investigated. Subjects first knew about the therapy because friends or relatives recommended to them and most of them have used for 6 months to 1 year. However, 78.9% of subjects answered 'not so effective' in a question about satisfaction of anti-diabetic functional food. Although many of the patients have tried taking functional foods, they only use them for short period of time and they don't show prominent effect. Therefore these results suggest that in order to use scientifically studied functional foods, education about anti-diabetic functional foods should taken.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1649-1654
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• 2016

Tea derived from the leaves and buds of Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) is consumed worldwide. Green tea contains various components with specific health-promoting effects, and is believed to exert protective effects against diseases including cancer, diabetes and hepatitis, as well as obesity. Of the various tea components, the polyphenol catechins have been the subject of extensive investigation and among the catechins, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate has the strongest bioactivity in most cases. Our research group has postulated that hepatocyte nuclear factor-$4{\alpha}$, sterol regulatory element-binding proteins, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ are targets of green tea constituents including (-)-epigallocatechin gallate for their anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, and anti-hepatitis effects, respectively. Published papers were reviewed to determine whether the observed changes in these factors can be correlated with anti-cancer effects of green tea. Two major action mechanisms of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate have been proposed; one associated with its anti-oxidative properties and the other with its pro-oxidative activity. When reactive oxygen species are assumed to be involved, our findings that (-)-epigallocatechin gallate downregulated hepatocyte nuclear factor-$4{\alpha}$, sterol regulatory element-binding proteins, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ may explain the anti-cancer effect of green tea as well. However, further studies are required to elucidate which determinant directs (-)-epigallocatechin gallate action as an anti-oxidant or a pro-oxidant for favorable activity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2017

Objective: This study reviewed experimental studies on the effects of Korean medical treatment for diabetes mellitus (DM). Method: We reviewed 24 studies about DM that had been published since 2013. We searched the Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM) database with the keyword '당뇨', '消渴', 'Diabetes'. Results: 1. The studies used various Korean medicine treatments; 15 used single medicinal herbs, 6 used herbal complexes, and 2 used acupuncture. 2. The measurement parameters used in the studies included blood glucose, body weight, histochemical change, lipid parameters, and food/water intake. Anti-diabetic effects were demonstrated in most of the studies. 3. The experimental animals used were rats or mice. There were 15 type 1 diabetes models, 7 type 2 diabetes models, and one normal model. Among them, 13 cases of chemical diabetes induced by Streptozotosin (STZ, type 1 diabetes inducer) were the most common. Conclusion: Further articles on Korean medical treatment of DM should be studied.